Monstrous Regiment

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

War has come to Discworld...again. And, to no one's great surprise, the conflict centers around the small, insufferably arrogant, strictly fundamentalist duchy of Borogravia, which has long prided itself on its ability to beat up on its neighbors. This time, however, it's Borogravia that's getting its long-overdue comeuppance, which has left the country severely drained of young men.

Ever since her brother Paul marched off to battle a year ago, Polly Perks has been running The Duchess, her family's inn, even though the revered national deity, Nuggan, has decreed that female ownership of a business is an Abomination. To keep The Duchess in the family, Polly must find her missing sibling. So she cuts off her hair, dons masculine garb, and sets out to join him in this man's army.

Polly is afraid that someone will see through her disguise; a fear that proves groundless when the legendary Sergeant Jackrum accepts her without question. Or perhaps the sergeant is too desperate to discriminate, which would explain why a vampire, a troll, a zombie, a religious fanatic, and two uncommonly close "friends" are also eagerly welcomed into the fighting fold. Soon, Polly finds herself wondering about the myriad peculiarities of her new brothers-in-arms. It would appear that Polly "Ozzer" Perks is not the only grunt with a secret.

©2003 Terry Pratchett (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Critic reviews

"Terry Pratchett's hilarious prose is significantly enhanced by the narrative skills of Stephen Briggs....Briggs and Pratchett are magnificent." (AudioFile)
"Thoroughly funny and surprisingly insightful." (Booklist)

A Very good story

THIS is a typical Terry Pratchett story! love the narration, it's who I'm use too reading the book (Nigke Plainer or Steven Brig's usually) the remakes I will NOT listen to as there are too MANY people & it takes away from the story. in my opinion.

Who's who?

It's a case of switched identities, and the reader only knows half of what's going on. Another wonderful story by Pratchett. A good introduction to the Discworld for first time readers, but sure to be a favourite to long time fans like myself. Narration suits both the dialogue and the characters. Highly recommended

Wish I could give this more than 5 stars

Would you consider the audio edition of Monstrous Regiment to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but the narration is so stellar that I can't imagine any way that I could enjoy this more than on Audible. In fact, I have a friend who is a fan of Terry Pratchett and am constantly telling him that he ought to get Audible to enjoy the books to their fullest.

What did you like best about this story?

Terry Pratchett makes the characters so real that I'm invested in them almost immediately. These are people I want to meet. They're layered and complex. The writing is among the best I've ever encountered in any genre. My favorite Discworld books feature Sam Vimes and the Watch - some of whom make an appearance here.

What about Stephen Briggs’s performance did you like?

He brings every one of the characters to life and captures Pratchett's gorgeous and funny prose with pitch perfection.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Any additional comments?

While this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I think the impact is even greater when read after the City Watch books and The Truth. It really is a triumph of storytelling and brought tears to my eyes.

Rollicking good fun

I’ve never read or heard Terry Pritchett. This is making a fan out of me. And the performance is STELLAR.

Monstrous Regiment was Hilarious

What made the experience of listening to Monstrous Regiment the most enjoyable?

The interpretation of Terry Pratchett's wonderful Diskworld series

Who was your favorite character and why?

Polly, of course. She is what the story is all abouts.

What does Stephen Briggs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the nuances of all the different characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

What? Women in men's clothes? Preposterous.....

Stunningly Good Performance and Fantastic Book

Would you listen to Monstrous Regiment again? Why?

Absolutely - in fact, I've already listened to it three times!

Which character – as performed by Stephen Briggs – was your favorite?

Impossible to choose. This book is Stephen Briggs' best performance, in my opinion, and his reading genuinely adds another layer of fun to this great book. What a fantastic reader, with a wide range of voices perfectly suited to Pratchett's wacky world!

great, except for the music

great voices, entertaining story. music at the chapter transitions makes it hard to understand the words

Terry Pratchett is just the best

absolutely love everything Terry Pratchett rights. this world makes me feel like a child again.

Great book, great performance

What made the experience of listening to Monstrous Regiment the most enjoyable?

I like Pratchett's books for the perfect mix of humor and philosophy. I also like the short and colorful language. So for me it's super critical for a narrator to maintain the right balance between being too funny, being too moralistic and have a crisp and clear language. And the narrator has it all. I believe this is exactly how Pratchett's books should sound.

Any additional comments?

If you like reading Pratchett's books, you'll like listening to this.

Wonderful as usual

Best storyteller and the best person to give voice to his work. Stephen Brigs breathes life into the Discworld.